The Best and Worst Routes to Good Decision Making

This session explores the power of consensus and, by contrast, dissent, not for the power they have to persuade but for the kinds of thinking that they stimulate. The implications are consequential for decision making and for the creativity of solutions by both individuals and groups. Research evidence as well as "real life" examples will be presented showing how this influence—and whether or not it includes dissent—stimulates open or closed thought processes. The net effect is that individuals and groups will engage in more critical thinking and better decision making when exposed to dissent. What is especially important is that the findings hold whether the dissent is right or wrong. The findings have implications for leadership, for understanding cults, disastrous business decisions, jury decision making, and political discourse, as well as the importance of welcoming dissent, even when it is wrong.

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